by Mallory Kane
“N-never? Oh, Cody.”
“It’s not the way I do things. We’ll get him, chère. We’ll get him and put him behind bars. He’d rather die than be put back in prison.”
“Ah, but Detective Maxwell, that’s the wonderful part of this scheme.” Fontenot’s voice once again held triumph and self-satisfaction. “You haven’t won. You’ll never win. I’ll get out again. And I must warn you that I never forget. You ruined my life when you put me away. I killed my wife so I could be free, and I’ll kill you for the sheer pleasure of it.”
“You know, Fontenot? Unlike you, I do forget sometimes, which is why I like to carry a second wire in case the first one gets lost. Thank you for being so honest with us.”
Fontenot’s face flamed and the veins stood out in his temples. He screamed—an inhuman sound, and dived for Cody, whose hands were still cuffed behind him.
Dana watched in horror as Fontenot attacked her husband. She pointed the gun. She closed her finger over the trigger.
I’ve never killed anybody, Dana. She shook her head to rid herself of Cody’s voice. She had to do something. Fontenot still had the switchblade. He would kill Cody.
Dimly, in the background, she heard a huge crash as the police tried to break the door down, but Fontenot’s magnetic lock held fast.
Crying, sobbing, she watched Fontenot’s hands close around Cody’s throat. “Stop it, Fontenot!” she shouted. “Let him go, please,” she begged desperately, but Fontenot didn’t hear her. His face was purple with rage. One hand tightened around Cody’s throat, as the other reached in his pocket for the knife.
“Stop!” she cried as she heard shots outside the door and the sound of splintering wood. “I swear to God I’ll shoot you!”
Oh, hurry! Even as Dana thought the words, she knew the futility of them. The magnetized lock on the door was safe against more than two thousand pounds of force. Fontenot had said so, and she knew he wouldn’t have said it if it weren’t true. He was too proud of his accomplishments.
She watched, helplessly, as Cody kicked and thrashed, trying to buck the man off him. Fontenot’s rage gave him the strength of a superman. He was relentless. He jerked the switchblade out of his pocket and, as he did, the remote control skidded across the floor.
Dana’s eyes followed it as it clattered to rest about five feet in front of her.
Cody choked and coughed.
Dana heard the snick of metal against metal as Fontenot flipped open the knife.
Turning her full attention back to Fontenot, she squeezed her finger around the trigger, but her gaze kept wanting to wander to the small black device that, with the press of a button, would open the door for Dev and the New Orleans police.
After what seemed an endless moment of indecision, Dana dropped the gun and dove for the black device, pressing the button desperately.
The door slammed open and police swarmed into the room, just as Cody got his feet under him and heaved with all his might, throwing Fontenot directly into Dev’s path as the big detective rushed in, gun at the ready.
Fontenot pushed up and lunged at Dana. Dev swung at him. The force of Dev’s blow sent Fontenot backward into Dana’s heavy oak sofa table, which collapsed when Fontenot’s back hit it.
The madman squealed in pain and Dev sauntered over and laid the barrel of his gun against Fontenot’s neck. “Go ahead. Give me an excuse to shoot you.”
“You disgusting lout!” Fontenot screamed. “You’ve broken my back. I’m in agony! Help me!”
“I’ll help you right back into prison,” Dev growled as uniformed police surrounded Fontenot.
Dana pushed her way through the crowd to Cody. She grabbed him. “Cody, are you okay? Oh, God, look at the blood!”
“Don’t worry, chère, it’s just a flesh wound.” Cody grinned at her as one of the uniformed officers helped him up and unlocked the handcuffs.
As soon as his hands were free, Cody reached for Dana with his good arm as he coughed and rubbed the dark red marks on his neck.
Dana grabbed a piece of his ruined shirt and began wiping his chest, where blood seeped from the cuts Fontenot had inflicted.
“See, told you. Just a flesh wound.”
Small shivers ran down her spine. “I wanted to kill him, Cody. I really wanted to kill him. There for a minute, I could have blown him away without a second thought.”
“I know, chère, I felt the same way. You did good. You saved us. I’m so proud of you.”
“But he could have killed you, and I couldn’t pull the trigger.”
“Don’t think about it anymore. You did exactly the right thing.” Cody’s voice was hoarse.
He pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her, so tight she could hardly breathe, which was just tight enough. “If you’d killed him it would have weighed on you for the rest of your life, and I don’t want that. I want the rest of our lives to be safe and secure.”
Dana pulled her head back to look at Cody. “Our lives? Safe? What do you mean?”
“I think I’m getting too old for this cops-and-robbers stuff.”
Hope and fear rose up in Dana’s breast, almost choking her. “But, Cody, you love being a cop. I don’t want you to hate me because you had to give up your dream.”
“I’m not giving up my dream, chère. It took me a while to realize it, but being a cop is what I do, my dream is right here in my arms. It’s never been quite the same after you left me. Do you realize ever since I’ve been a cop, you’ve been there? And when you weren’t there anymore to keep me balanced, to give me a safe, secure place to come home to, the excitement and the danger just got old.”
“You depended on me for safety, for security? Oh, Cody. I know you love me. I saw it.” Her voice cracked and tears welled in her eyes. “I will never forget how you tried to save me. I’ll never get over being afraid for you, but I think I can stand anything, as long as I know you love me.”
“I don’t think you’ll ever know how much, chère.”
But she did know. She would never tell him how heartbreaking it had been to hear his hopeless screams and to watch his desperate struggle to break away from Dev and run into the inferno to save her. It was something she’d keep inside herself, for those lonely nights while she waited for him to come home.
It was her security, knowing how much he loved her.
Cody kissed her, and Dana felt the barriers go down inside her, felt the uninhibited passion that he had always been able to coax from her. Cody Maxwell loved her. There was nothing she couldn’t face.
He pulled back and grinned at her. “Let’s go home. I’ve got a surprise for you.”
Dana laughed shakily, and tears spilled down her cheeks. “I don’t know if I’m up to any more surprises today, Cody.”
He kept one arm around her and guided her out of the apartment, around the policemen, and out the door. “I think you might like this one, chère,” he said as he led her to the car. “There’s a rumor that the police chief on Chartres Island is thinking about retiring. Captain Hamilton said he’d put in a good word for me when the job comes open.”
“Chartres Island? That tiny little resort island? With nothing but a ferry to connect us to New Orleans? You’ll be bored to tears, Cody. Are you sure you want to do that?”
“I’ll tell you what I want, chère. I want to spend the next fifty years or so coming home to you. And if you’re willing, I’d like to get started on a Little League team.”
Dana stared up at him. “You want to what?” she asked in bewilderment.
He laughed. “I want to create a Little League team. But I’m not getting any younger, so we’d better get started very soon.”
Dana didn’t even try to stop the flood of tears that coursed down her cheeks. She looked up to find an angelic smile on Cody’s face, but behind the smile she saw a trace of apprehension. Just a trace. If she hadn’t known him so well she might have missed it.
But she did know him well, so she took his face in her hands and
kissed him sweetly, then smiled back at him. “You know, maybe I could eventually get to liking surprises.”
Epilogue
Six months later
Dana stood back and looked at the table. The china sparkled, and the glasses shone in the candlelight. Biting her lip, she moved one plate just a bit to the left and smoothed a tiny wrinkle in a napkin.
She glanced up at the clock, and her pulse sped up. Cody would be home in a few minutes. She checked off her list on her fingers. The crawfish were done, the champagne was chilled, and she was dressed…after a fashion.
She pulled at the tail of Cody’s Police Academy T-shirt, under which she had on nothing at all. Stifling a nervous giggle, she picked up the two crystal flutes and reached for the champagne, reminding herself that she could only have one glass.
She’d never done anything like this before. She hoped Cody would appreciate it, and not laugh at her.
She heard his key in the front door. Grabbing the champagne bottle, she walked into the living room just as he came in the door.
His gaze met hers and she smiled. “Hi there, tough guy,” she murmured in what she hoped was a sultry voice.
Cody looked shocked, and his face turned pink.
A fluttering panic began in Dana’s stomach.
Just then Dev poked his head in. “Hi there, Mrs. Maxwell. Not expecting company, I see.” His black eyes ran appreciatively over her bare legs.
“D-Dev…I didn’t—”
“Dana, what are you—”
Dana and Cody spoke at the same time, then stopped.
Dev laughed. “Hey. I can tell when three’s a crowd. I believe you two have some celebrating to do. If I remember correctly, you’ve been married again for three months today.”
Dana’s face burned as Dev stepped into the living room. She couldn’t check on the tail of her T-shirt because her hands were full. She stood perfectly still, legs slightly bent. If Dev had any idea what she had on, or rather didn’t have on…
Licking her lips, she tried to brandish the champagne bottle without lifting her arm. “Can I pour you some champagne?”
The big detective shook his head, still laughing, and gave her a hug and a peck on the cheek. “You’re sweet.” He lowered his voice. “If you ever get tired of him, you give me a call. I guarantee your tough guy don’t know how lucky he is.”
“Oh, trust me, Dev, I know.”
Dev nodded, still looking at Dana. Before he turned to Cody, Dana caught a dark sadness in his gaze.
Dev chucked Cody playfully on the arm. “You’d better, my man.” He turned back to wink at Dana. “Don’t forget what I said. Now, I can see you two have some business to conduct, so I’ll just be on my way.”
“Dev, wait. There’s plenty of food. Stay and eat with us.”
He looked at Dana, then at Cody, and a look of affection softened the harsh planes of his face. “Not tonight, thanks. Ask me again. Catch you later.”
Dana frowned at the door after Dev left. “Cody? Has Dev ever talked to you about himself?”
“What do you mean?” Cody asked, pulling her into the curve of his arms.
Still a bit distracted, Dana lifted her chin as Cody’s warm lips traced a line from her ear to her throat. “You know, about his life. That kind of thing. Has he ever been married? Does he date anyone seriously?”
Cody shook his head. “Not really,” he said, rather evasively. “Let’s not talk about Dev. That’s one guy who can take care of himself.” He kissed her. “I’d rather hear about what were you offering me earlier.” He slid his hands down her back and tugged on the T-shirt. Soon his warm, firm fingers discovered that she didn’t have on any underwear.
“Oh, chère.” His voice was low and gruff. “Let’s save the champagne for later.” His mouth covered hers in a searing kiss, and his hands began exploring all the wonderful secrets barely hidden by the T-shirt.
Dana closed her eyes and gave herself up to the sensations coaxed from her by her husband, the only man she’d ever loved.
MUCH LATER, THE TWO OF THEM lay on the bed, with Dana’s head on Cody’s shoulder, as she fed him sips of champagne.
Dana sighed, sated and happy. It was hard to believe that just six months ago their lives had been put in danger by a deranged madman.
She held the champagne glass over Cody’s head and poured champagne into his mouth, missing and dribbling it down his chin. She leaned over and caught the stray drops with her tongue.
Cody laughed. “All this spontaneity is going to take getting used to.” He moved his head and caught her mouth with his. “Happy three-month anniversary, my wife,” he whispered against her lips. “Want something else to celebrate?”
Dana’s breath caught. She swallowed. “As a matter of fact, Cody…”
“Chère, guess what?”
“What?” She lifted her head to look at him.
“I got the job.”
“You got…”
He nodded. “The police chief job on Chartres Island. I got it, if I want it.”
Her heart was thundering like a jackhammer. “D-do you want it?” she asked.
“Oh, yeah,” he said, sliding his hand down her hip to her thigh and nibbling on her ear. “I want it. Why wouldn’t I?”
She moaned as desire swelled within her. “I just want to be sure you’re doing what you want, not just what you think I want.”
He held her head between his palms and kissed her sweetly on the mouth. “It’s exactly what I want. There’s only one thing I can think of that I would like more.”
Her face flushed and she lowered her gaze.
“Chère? Something wrong?”
She shook her head without looking at him. She wasn’t sure she could meet his eyes right then. She took a deep breath. “Do you still want a Little League team?” Her voice broke.
His body went totally still. Her heart sped up even more.
He leaned up on one elbow. “Are you saying…?”
Finally meeting his gaze, she nodded, and her eyes filled with tears.
“Oh, God,” he whispered, then sat up and pulled her across his lap and into his arms. He buried his face in her shoulder, and his embrace was fierce, almost desperate. His body trembled against hers.
“Are you all right?” She held her breath, waiting for him to speak.
After a long moment, he nodded, then lifted his head, and she was awed by the love shimmering along with tears in his clear blue eyes.
“The question is, are you all right?”
She nodded and smiled. “The doctor says I’m doing fine. He said I shouldn’t have any problems.”
Cody sighed in relief. “Do you have any idea how much I love you?” he asked, pressing his forehead against hers. A tear trickled down his cheek.
She nodded and traced the path of the tear with her fingertip. “Almost as much as I love you.” She gave him a watery smile.
“More.”
“Cody, don’t argue with a lawyer. You know you can’t win.”
Cody laughed and kissed his wife.
ISBN: 978-1-4603-5066-9
THE LAWMAN WHO LOVED HER
Copyright © 2001 by Rickey R. Mallory
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